Elongated hollow member for suspending objects

ABSTRACT

An elongated hollow member for suspending objects is formed of two first walls ( 1 ) running parallel to each other in the elongated direction (L) and two second walls ( 2 ) disposed perpendicularly to the first walls ( 1 ) and running in the elongated direction (L) with a wall thickness (w). The second walls ( 2 ) and the first walls ( 1 ) form a substantially rectangular cross-section having transverse widths (h) and (b). In order to assure economical manufacturing of the hollow member with a high torsional rigidity, the member has at least one elongated web ( 5 ) running in the plane of at least one second wall ( 2 ) and extending in the elongated direction (L) and perpendicular to the first wall ( 1 ) and extending outwardly beyond the corresponding first wall ( 1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an elongated hollow member forsuspending objects having two first walls extending in the elongateddirection and parallel to each other and two parallel second wallsextending in the elongated direction and, having a width arrangedperpendicular to the elongated direction, wherein the first walls andthe second walls form a substantially rectangular cross-section.

[0002] Elongated hollow members of the above type are used, for example,for fastening loads, which can be fixed to the hollow member usingthreaded rods. Furthermore, such hollow members are used also forstiffening a floor or a wall.

[0003] Hollow members are generally known that have a substantiallyrectangular cross-section with two side walls extending in the elongateddirection parallel to each other and two other walls disposedperpendicularly to the side walls and running in the elongateddirection. Side walls and/or other walls have grooves and/or recessesfor fastening objects or a further member, in particular a hollowmember. In order to assure economical manufacture of the hollow member,it is fabricated for example out of one or a plurality of metal sheets.

[0004] The drawback in the case of known hollow members is that theyhave insufficient torsional rigidity and, as a result, their applicationis limited.

[0005] Furthermore, the drawback in the known hollow members is thatprecise positioning of an object to be suspended is very time-consuming,because positioning aids, in particular a stop surface, are lacking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hollowmember that is economical to manufacture having a substantiallyrectangular cross-section and high torsional rigidity as well as lowintrinsic weight.

[0007] Such object is achieved by the invention in that the hollowmember has at least one elongated web running at the level or in theplane of at least one second wall and whose height projects over a firstwall.

[0008] By virtue of the fact that at least one elongated web is arrangedon the hollow member, a high torsional rigidity is assured. Furthermore,the elongated web can be used as a stop surface for a part fastened tothe hollow member. Preferably, the elongated web has a uniform heightextending perpendicularly to the first wall, in order to make possible asimple and optimal positioning of a part to be fastened or suspended.The configuration of the elongated web(s) in the plane of the secondwall makes possible for example a flat contact of one or both secondwalls with the elongated web(s) in a planar surface of another hollowmember according to the invention.

[0009] Preferably, the elongated web is formed by folding the material,which is shaped open towards the inside space of the hollow member andso assures economical manufacturing of the hollow member.Advantageously, a metal sheeting is used for manufacturing the hollowmember, the sheeting having a wall thickness that corresponds to that ofthe wall thickness of the second wall. The folding of the material is,for example, formed by a single folding or multiple folding of the metalsheeting.

[0010] In order provide aid for optimal positioning of a part to besecured or suspended, both second walls each have at least one elongatedweb that are arranged opposite to each other. The two correspondingelongated webs provide a guide for one or a plurality of other hollowmembers that can be connected with each other, for example, using one ora plurality of fasteners.

[0011] Advantageously, the oppositely disposed elongated webs run in theelongated direction parallel and at a distance from each other, wherebythe separation or spacing is preferably approximately equal to the widthof one first wall and of the double height of one of the elongated webs,so as to provide precise guiding for connecting one or a plurality ofhollow members according to the invention having a second wall with twolongitudinal webs in the plane of such second wall. If the hollow memberto be connected has only one elongated web in the plane of one secondwall, the spacing, too, of the opposing elongated webs corresponds tothe extension of the hollow member in the plane of the correspondingsecond wall perpendicular to the elongated direction. In this fashion,precise guiding is afforded.

[0012] By way of example, a first hollow member according to theinvention having a first wall between the two elongated webs arrangedopposite to each other abuts on the first walls corresponding to theelongated webs. In that the width corresponds to the spacing of theelongated webs, an optimal guiding of the first hollow member transverseto the elongated direction of the second hollow member is assured.Particularly in the case of application of the hollow member accordingto the invention for creating mounting systems, this configuration forguiding of hollow members that are to be connected with each other hasbeen shown to be advantageous. In particular, the spacing of elongatedwebs arranged opposite to each other provides high torsional rigidity inthe connection or connections, because the contacting elongated websprevent a twisting of the two hollow members against each other.

[0013] Preferably the thickness of the elongated webs corresponds to twoto six times the wall thickness of the second wall in order to provideda torsional rigidity corresponding to the hollow member loads.Furthermore, such a dimensioning of the thickness of the elongated websassures an optimal relationship between the intrinsic weight of thehollow member and the torsional rigidity.

[0014] Advantageously, the second wall(s) has (have) a plurality ofrecesses that, for example, provide a simple and economical fasteningpossibility for a further part, such as, a further hollow member.Naturally, other fastening possibilities are also possible in lieu ofbore holes such as welded threaded pins or eyelets, for example.

[0015] Preferably the first and second walls each have a plurality ofrecesses.

[0016] Advantageously, at least one first wall has a bead, corrugationor stiffening recess running in the elongated direction, in order toprovide a guide independent of the elongated web for a C-shaped mountingrail, for example.

[0017] In a further embodiment at least one second wall exhibits a bead,corrugation or stiffening recess running in the elongated direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0018] The invention will now be more completely explained using anexemplary embodiment with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hollow member according to theinvention; and

[0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines II-II ofthe hollow member represented in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMBER INVENTION

[0021]FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a hollow member according to the inventionhaving two first walls 1 running parallel to each other in the elongateddirection L and two second walls 2 disposed perpendicular to the firstwalls 1 in the elongated direction L and having a wall thickness w. Thetwo first walls 1 and the two second walls 2 form a substantiallyrectangular cross-section having a height h and a width b. The hollowmember is, for example, made of one or a plurality of metal sheets withan essentially constant wall thickness w.

[0022] The hollow member has in the plane 3 of the two second walls 2 atboth elongated edges 4 an elongated web 5 extending in the elongateddirection L and perpendicularly to the first walls 1 and projectingbeyond the corresponding second wall 2 by a height c, the elongated web5 having a thickness d, as is can be seen particularly in FIG. 2. Forthe formation of the elongated web 5, the sheet metal part in the areaof the elongated web 5 is folded once so that it is confgured open to aninside space 6 formed by the first walls and the second walls 2. Thismaterial folding has a thickness d, which corresponds approximately to 3times the wall thickness w of the second wall 2 or the wall thickness wof the sheet metal material. In order to assure versatile application ofthe hollow member, the two outer walls 5 a, 5 b forming the elongatedweb 5 extends parallel to each other and parallel to the correspondingsecond wall 2.

[0023] As can be seen particularly in FIG. 1, the second walls 2 and thefirst walls 1 have a plurality of recesses, in particular through holes7, which are disposed successively uniformly over the entire length orelongated direction of the hollow member. Furthermore, both the firstwalls 1 and the second walls 2 each have a bead, or corrugation recessedinwardly by a depth t and a width running approximately centrally in theelongated direction L. The depth t corresponds approximately to the wallthickness w of the second wall 2 and the width hs of the bead orcorrugation 8 corresponds approximately to 0.5 times the width b of thesecond wall.

[0024] The height or width h of the cross-section of the hollow sectioncorresponds approximately to 1.2 times the width b of the cross-sectionthat is the width perpendicular to the width h. Furthermore, the width bof the cross-section can correspond approximately to the 6 times thedimension c of the longitudinal web 5 extending outwardly from the firstwall. The spacing a of two elongated webs 5 arranged opposite to eachother on a second wall 2 corresponds to the overall width b+c+c of thecross-section of the hollow member, that is, the outside dimensionbetween the outer surfaces of the elongated webs 5.

What is claimed is:
 1. An elongated hollow member for suspending objectscomprising a pair of first walls (1) extending in the elongateddirection and in laterally spaced parallel relation and a pair of secondwalls (2) arranged perpendicularly to said first walls (1) and extendingin the elongated direction and in laterally spaced parallel relation,each said second walls (2) having a width (b) transverse to theelongated direction and a wall thickness (w), said first walls (1) andsecond walls (2) form a substantially rectangular cross-sectional space(6), said hollow member has at least one web (5) extending in theelongated direction projecting outwardly from one of said first walls bya dimension (c) and located in a plane of at least one said second wall(2).
 2. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 1, where saidweb (5) is formed of a material forming said first and second walls (2)folded over upon itself and forming a fold open to said space (6).
 3. Anelongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of saidpairs of second walls have at least one said elongated web (5) arrangedopposite to one another.
 4. An elongated hollow member, as set forth inclaim 3, wherein said elongated webs (5) disposed opposite to oneanother are parallel to one another and spaced apart by a dimension (a).5. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 4, wherein thedimension (a) corresponds approximately to the width (b) and double awidth (c) of said web projecting outwardly from said first wall (1). 6.An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 5, wherein thedimension (d) of the web (5) measured in a plane of said first walls isin a range of two times to six times the wall thickness (w) of saidsecond wall (2).
 7. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 6,wherein said second walls (2) have a plurality of openings (7)therethrough.
 8. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 7,wherein said first walls (1) each have a plurality of openings (7)therethrough.
 9. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 8,wherein at least one said first wall has one of a bead or corrugation(8) extending in the elongated direction.
 10. An elongated hollowmember, as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least one said second wallhas one of a bead or corrugation (8) extending in the elongateddirection.
 11. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 10,wherein said one bead or corrugation (8) is formed by an inwardlyrecessed portion of said first and second walls (1, 2).
 12. An elongatedhollow member, as set forth in claim 11, where said bead or corrugationhas a dimension (hs) extending transversely of the elongated direction.13. An elongated hollow member, as set forth in claim 2, wherein onesaid web is located at each corner of said space (6).